Boating Sales Enjoy Slight Growth During 1Q

Early spring weather was unkind to the U.S. marine industry again this year, but first-quarter numbers from Statistical Surveys Inc. suggest that 2014’s signature bitter chill was somewhat less of a sales deterrent than the raw and wet conditions were a year earlier.

Soundings Trade Only reported that sales in the industry’s main powerboat segments edged higher this year, rising by 212 boats, or 0.9%, to 23,684, and industrywide sales rose by 824 boats, or 2.5%, to 34,341, in 48 states that represent 99% of the nation’s boat market.

Only Maine and Hawaii, which report sales once a year, were not included in the report. A year earlier, sales fell 4.4% for the quarter in the main segments and 8% industrywide.